This text discusses sexual assault.
Stranger Issues almost had a problematic Steve scene, however fortunately it was faraway from the present. The Duffer brothers’ coming-of-age sci-fi horror went by way of fairly a number of adjustments earlier than it grew to become the Stranger Issues that audiences know and love. A few of the extra notable adjustments concerned fan-favorite character Steve Harrington (Joe Keery). The unique plan for Steve was to be killed off in Stranger Issues season 1 earlier than the Duffer brothers modified path. Steve’s character has develop into a spotlight of the present, one thing that would not have been the case if one controversial scene had remained in Stranger Issues.
Joe Keery revealed in an interview with GQ that Steve, who begins off in Stranger Issues as a smarmy, common jerk, was initially going to be a a lot darker character. As Keery explains, “[Steve] was having this social gathering [in the script] — I believe it was on a seaside, as a result of it initially came about in Montauk, Lengthy Island. And he was a complete, complete dick. He compelled himself on Nancy. Manner harsher.” Nevertheless, Joe Keery had his personal concepts for Steve, imagining him as a flawed one who does imply nicely, and the Duffer brothers have been receptive to his concepts, altering their plans for the Stranger Issues character.
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Steve Assaulting Nancy Would’ve Made Him Irredeemable In Stranger Issues
Having Steve sexually assault Nancy (Natalia Dyer) would’ve made his character completely irredeemable in Stranger Issues. Steve forcing himself on Nancy would have taken his character from a cocky jerk to a full-on villain. It might be tough for Stranger Issues to justify turning Steve right into a hero, particularly one who would find yourself working intently with Nancy and develop into associates along with her after the couple breaks up in Stranger Issues season 2. Stranger Issues has had its share of darkish moments, however this is able to be an particularly uncomfortable second within the present as a result of it isn’t a supernatural menace – it is one thing that sadly occurs in the true world.
Steve was a jerk in Stranger Issues season 1, however he can be even much less likable if the Duffer brothers had stored the assault scene within the script. It is uncertain that audiences would root for a Steve and Nancy romance if Steve had compelled himself on her. Nancy and Steve have been candy and endearing collectively, and this harsher second would have detracted from their enchantment. The Duffer brothers in all probability wrote that Steve and Nancy scene again when Steve was meant to be killed off, and his despicable habits would’ve made his demise justifiable. Nevertheless, Stranger Issues’ story is made higher due to Steve’s redemption, and the scene was rightfully eliminated.
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Why Steve’s Character Growth Works In Stranger Issues
All through the Stranger Issues timeline, Steve has efficiently developed right into a lovable character who has develop into the “designated babysitter” for the Get together and a giant brother determine for Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo). Steve’s character growth works as a result of he wasn’t a totally horrible individual to start with. Steve was cocky initially, however he had room to develop, and he is in a position to notice how terrible his habits is in direction of Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) and alter his methods, abandoning his common associates who laughed at Jonathan and slut-shamed Nancy. Steve slowly grows all through Stranger Issues season 1, culminating in a fantastic heroic second the place he helps Nancy and Jonathan struggle off the Demogorgon.
Steve might have began out as the standard ’80s jerk jock character in Stranger Issues, however fortunately the Duffer brothers took Steve and developed him into one thing higher. Steve’s growth right into a goofy but protecting and inspiring pal is a superb subversion of a basic teen film stereotype. If the Duffer brothers had stored in that problematic Steve and Nancy scene, they might be leaning extra right into a damaging character trope, slightly than permitting Steve to develop and develop into a greater individual. It is a good factor that the Duffer brothers did not preserve Steve as a villain, as a result of his evolution in Stranger Issues has been nice to look at.
Supply: GQ